Mattress cover



0. B. LUNDBERG July 15, 1969 MATTRESS COVER Filed March 6, 1967 FIG INVENTOR.

OLGA B. LUNDBERG XMOaaJ/M ORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. --335 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable mattress cover adapted to be quickly and easily applied to the mattress of a hospital bed and which may be discarded when a new patient is admitted to occupy the bed. The cover is constructed from flexible plastic material such as cellophane and the blank is provided with printed lines indicating where the cover is to be placed on the mattress and where folds are to be made. The blank also has areas to which adhesive is applied and by means of which the sections of the blank may be attached to one another to encase the mattress.

In prior art devices cutting of the blank is required and the cost of the blank is great enough so that it becomes undesirable to dispose of the mattress cover after each use. The instant invention provides a construction in which the blank is simple in form and in which the same is folded and the areas to which the adhesive is applied are in position to hold the sections attached.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a developed view of a blank from which the mattress cover is constructed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a corner of a mattress with the blank placed thereon and illustrating the first step in applying the cover to the mattress.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the cover further folded and illustrating the second step in applying the cover to the mattress.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, showing the cover still further folded and illustrating the third step in applying the cover to the mattress.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the mattress cover fully applied and the sections attached together for use.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of a modification of the invention in which the sections are arranged in different positions.

For the purpose of explaining the application of the invention to a mattress, a portion of a mattress 50 has been shown having a top 51, a bottom 52 and side and end walls of which the side wall 53 and the end wall 54 are shown. The top, bottom side walls and end walls meet in elongated corners of which the corners 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 are illustrated.

The invention is constructed from a blank 10 illustrated in unfolded position in FIG. 1. This blank is rectangular in form and is provided with two transverse printed lines 11 and 12 which are located a distance apart equal to the length of the mattress and extend completely across the blank. The blank is further formed with two longitudinal printed lines 13 and 14 which are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the mattress. In addition a longitudinal printed center line 15 is provided which together with lines 13 and 14 extend throughout the length of the blank.

By means of this construction a central section 16 is formed which is bounded by the transverse lines 11 and 12 and the longitudinal edges 21 and 22 of the blank. In addition two end sections 17 and 18 are formed which are bounded by the transverse lines 11 and 12, the edges 21 and 22 and respectively by the transverse edges 23 and 24 of the blank. In addition the blank during the application ice to the mattress is folded along fold lines 25, 26, 27 and 28 which naturally occur and which may be printed or not as desired.

The center line 15 divides the cover into two halves 31 and 32 extending on opposite sides of the cover throughout the length thereof and between said centerline and the longitudinal edges 21 and 22 respectively, the purpose of which will be presently described.

The various printed lines divide the central section 16 into a body 33 defined by printed lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 and of a width and length equal substantially to the width and length of the mattress. In addition two side flaps 34 and 35 are formed bounded by the printed lines 11, 12, 13 and the edge 21 and by the printed lines 11, 12, 14 and the edge 22 of the blank. Also two end flaps 36 and 37 are provided which are bounded by the printed lines 11, 13 and 14 and a fold line 25 and by the printed lines, 12, 13, 14 and fold line 26.

Outwardly of the body 33 and in the end sections 17 and 18 are provided laps 38 and 39 which are bounded by the printed lines 13, .14, and the fold lines 25 and the edge 23 of the blank and by the lines 13, 14, the fold line 26 and the edge 24. Furthermore corner pieces 41, 42, 43 and 44 are formed at the corners of the blank disposed outwardly of the printed lines 13 and 14 and the fold lines 25 and 26. Between the corner pieces 41, 42, 43 and 44 and flaps 34 and 35 are intervening pieces 45, 46, 47 and 48 bounded by the printed lines 11, 12, 13, 14, the fold lines 25, 26 and the edges 21 and 22, respectively.

On the underside of blank and at the extreme corners thereof are elongated areas 61 of adhesive with protecting cloth or the equivalent applied thereto and upon removal exposing the adhesive surface of the areas. These areas run along the longitudinal adges 21 and 22 of the blank and terminate at the transverse edges 23 and 24 thereof. In addition other similar areas 62 of adhesive run diagonally across the intervening pieces 45, 46, 47 and 48 from the intersections of the printed lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 to the intersections of the fold lines 25 and 26 with the edges 21 and 22. These areas of adhesive are applied to the upper surface of the blank.

The method of using the invention is as follows:

When the cover is to be applied to an unoccupied bed, the bed clothing is removed and the blank placed face up on the mattress. The blank is then adjusted until the printed lines 11, 12, 13 and 14 coincide with the elongated upper end and side corners 55 and 57 of the mat tress. The end sections 17 and 18 are then dropped down causing the end flaps 34 and 35 to overly the ends 54 of the mattress as shown in FIG. 2. The laps 17 and 18 and the corner pieces 41, 42, 43 and 44 are then folded along the lines 25 and 26 to cause the laps 38 and 39 to underlie the bottom 52 of the mattress at the foot and head thereof as shown in FIG. 2. The flap 35 is then folded back along the lines 14 and 27 and laid back upon the body 33 as shown in FIG. 3. This causes the corner piece 44 to drop down causing the same to fold along fold line 28, bringing the two parts of said corner piece in overlying position to form two double-folds 55 and 56 as also shown in FIG. 3. The protective covering of the two areas of adhesive 61 and 62 are then removed.

The side flap 35 is next folded downwardly along line 14 until the same overlies the side 53 of the mattress 50 and may be pressed against the areas of adhesive 62. This area is so located that it engages the folded portion 49 along the line 27 and inwardly thereof as shown in FIG. 4. The corner piece 44 is now folded on line 14 in an upwardly direction until it overlies side flap 35. Upon pressing said corner piece against said flap the area of adhesive 61 is caused to adhere to flap 35, the parts taking the final positions shown in FIG. 5. The same procedure is now carried out at the other corner on the same side of the mattress and the same procedure adopted on the other side of'the mattress whereby the mattress becomes firmly encased in the cover.

Where the bed is being occupied while the cover is installed the occupant is shifted to one side of the bed and the cover placed in position with the half 32 on the accessible portion of the mattress and with the half 31 to be placed on the other side of the mattress gathered along the center line 15. The cover is then installed on this side of the mattress as previously described. The patient is then shifted to the laid half 32 and the half 31 laid on the previously occupied position of the mattress. The blank is then folded as previously described and the bed clothes laid in the customary manner.

In FIG. a slight modification of the invention is disclosed. In this form of the invention the areas of adhesive 61 and 62 are arranged on the opposite sides of the blank and the areas of adhesive 62 extend diagonally from the opposite corners of the intervening pieces 45, 46, 47 and 48. In use the parts are arranged and folded in the same manner as previously described through steps 1 and 2 the parts being disposed as shown in FIG. 3. The corner piece 44 is then folded upwardly and attached to itself by means of the area of adhesive 62. The flap 35 is then brought down and attached to the corner piece 44 by means of the area of adhesive 61. The parts will then be arranged as shown in FIG. 6.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The cover is exceedingly simple in construction and may be made in a single piece of material without waste. The cover is constructed with a body overlying the top of the mattress and with flaps extending downwardly therefrom and overlying the sides and ends of the mattress whereby the parts most easily soiled are protected. Laps are provided for insertion under the head and foot of the mattress thereby holding the cover securely attached to the mattress. The cover is constructed in one piece without slits or irregularities. The cover is marked to facilitate placing the cover on the mattress and to secure the folds in the proper places.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A disposable mattress cover constructed from a one piece planiform rectangular blank of flexible material of greater width and length than the width and length of the mattress and foldable to provide:

(a) a central section and (b) two end sections,

(c) said central section including (d) a body conforming to the top of the mattress,

(e) two side flaps issuing from the sides of the body and overlying the sides of the mattress,

(f) said end sections including (g) two end flaps issuing from the ends of the body and overlying the ends of the mattress,

(b) one of said end flaps having a lap issuing from the lower edge thereof and underlying the underside of the mattress,

(i) the denoted end section having corner pieces issuing from the sides of the lap and (j) intervening pieces issuing from the ends of the adjoining side and end flaps and from the corner pieces,

(k) said side flaps being folded downwardly and (1) said corner pieces being folded upwarly,

(m) said flaps and said corner pieces overlying oneanother and (n) fastening means for securing said flaps and corner pieces together.

2. A disposable mattress cover according to claim 1 in which:

(a) the side wall flaps are folded along diagonal lines issuing from the upper corners of the mattress and (b) the corner pieces are folded along diagonal lines isuing from the bottom corners of the mattress and (c) the lines of fold are disposed at the sides of the mattress and cross each other.

3. A disposable mattress cover according to claim 1 in which:

(a) the lap and corner pieces are of a width, measured lengthwise of the mattress greater than the thickness of the mattress to provide (b) parts of the corner pieces extending beyond the intermediate pieces when the cover is completely folded and to which (c) part of the fastening means is attached.

4. A disposable mattress cover according to claim 3 inwhich:

(a) the fastening means consists of elongated areas of adhesive disposed at the outer edges of the corner pieces on one side of the cover and engage the upper portions of the side flaps and (b) the fastening means further consists of elongated areas of adhesive extending diagonally across the intermediate pieces and on the opposite side of the cover and engage the folded portions of the side flaps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,682,062 6/1954 Cogan 5-334 3,056,245 10/1962 Baum et al 5-334 3,321,782 5/1967 Hrubecky et al 5334 Kintner 5-334 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner ANDREW M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl X.R. 5-354 

